Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-30
The CONVICT LEE8E SYSTEM

1hG CCN VICE LIZ - ) ! ) TEN.
Governor Gordon OF Georgia hes en-
tered upon an investigation Of the convict
system OF that state, and the condition Of
affairs revealed is revo'ting in the ex-
IRENE. With the exception Of the Dade
coal mines, owned principally by Senator
Joseph Z. Johnson, every camp and farm
where convicts ars being employed Is
rocking with crime and brutality that
cries to heaven for vengeance. The stste
has long been kept in ignorance Of tic
true status OF affairs. The states physi-
clan, Dr. Westmorelsnd, made repor. Of
the wrongs inflicted upon the convicta
and submitted 1t TO Governor Mcdaniel
il 1883, but the lessees o3 convict labor
were in the ascendancy and secured It's
suppression. TIE regular legislative
isunting committee made their annual
visitations to the various camps; they
we're wined and dined, entertained By the
Iessees and were permitted to interview
such conVicts as were sGrG to give them
favorable account OF tie management,
and they returned with glowing account
of the excellent care which was beng
taken Of these unfoTtun2tes. TIE prisons
had been cleaned, the larders replenished
and the convicts smsrtened up for tue &C
cssion, Just as they are in every state on
occasions Of this character, and the sick
aid those suffering from abuse were
withdrawn out of sight. The records CT
the hospital showed that none Of the con-
victs were sick and everything seemed
charming. Anonymous letters soon
reached various citizens, giving = differ
ent version Of the story. Complaints in
creased in number, and disclosures were
made that were Incredible. Nothing
could be done, however, until the present
| Governor commenced his investigations.
He soon found that he lad not begun too
soon fo- the salvation OF many of the
convicts, who were being over-worhed,
half ted and brutally treated. Agents
were sent out TO investigate, and such Of
the convicts IS dare tell the truth, were
numerically beaten for complaining IS
soon as the agents were cut Of sight,
and many were discouraged and dis
suaded from telling, VINO, themselves,
were victims OF unnatural treatment end
covered with wounds and bruises. The
reign CT terror had to cease and the
persistence Of the Governor has succeeded
in calling q h2lt 10 the inhumanity. as
might be expected, the lessees who con-
doned every foul act and shielded their
su6ordinates, finding their leases in dan
ger Of being sbrogated, have shifted their
sails and are loud in coldemn!nz TIE
practices and eager to bring to punish
ment the guilty. They are too late. TIE
people Of Georgis will not permit tie IN
famous system to exist. A Mississippi
paper says OF that state: "God will not
bless stste that trests her convicts &;
does Mississippi" Tie Georgia idea
seems to prevail there also. 1t 6 shame
and q libel on the age il which we 1--we
that such abuses can exist. The lease
system is responsible for it, and though
condemned and re-condemned in every
psrty platform, still exists. Texas has
escaped these scandsls through the virtue
OF her officers, the charity and benevo
lence Of her lessees, the good fortune
which attends her,or, and as likely as any